Squidgy Useless Back Brake

[Jababobo]

My back brake has no feel to it whatsoever and its stopping power is virtually nil. This has always been the case since I picked it up from the dealer a year ago. I just got used to using the front brake all the time.
Now is this normal or should I get it seen to?

 

[Taff]

Can you lock it up? When I first bought my 1150 Adventure I thought that the rear pads needed changing, because I had the same symptoms you describe. Under hard braking though I could lock up the back wheel - not recommended I know, but it showed that the brake was working ok, but they just didn't feel anywhere near as effective as the front break. Thinking about it though, I tend to only use the rear brake for slow speed manouvering.

 

[cookie]

you don't say what bike, but from your description, it sounds very like my 1200 gsa rear brake.

 

[LiquidLAN]

sounds like a 12GSA to me too...

out of curiosity, did you get new boots when you got the new bike?

I tried to adjust some of the play out of the rear break, but to be honest I just dont use it now, the linked breaks are great once you get used to them.

 

[Tarka]

What bike ??

Have you bothered to bleed the system,check the fluid level or check the condition of the brake pads ??

 

[Jababobo]

Sorry, should have said: 12GS. Oct'05

I have indeed checked pads and fluid levels; everything seems fine.

Just wondered if BMW meant it to be a slow speed manoeuvering brake(anything under 15mph) and the front (linked) brakes were supposed to be used at all other times

 

[Yoda]

Just wondered if BMW meant it to be a slow speed manoeuvering brake(anything under 15mph) and the front (linked) brakes were supposed to be used at all other times.

Whether that was BMW's intent I don't know, but I think that's what the majority of people tend to do. It will lock the back wheel/activate the ABS, but you've got to press it quite a long way.